THE CENTER FOR JEWISH–CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING & COOPERATION

Jewish–Christian Relations & Bible Study Center

Our Programs

CJCUC's programs include:

Hebraic Bible Study for Christians

Scripture is the cornerstone for the spiritual relationship between Jews and Christians. Both Judaism and Christianity revere and consider the Hebrew Bible (The Old Testament) as authoritative text, and agree that understanding the Hebrew of the Bible is important to its tradition’s exegesis. In addition, both Jews and Christians view these canonized texts as the bedrock on how to live a Godly life.

Since inception in 2008, CJCUC developed an unprecedented Hebraic Bible text study. Each year, we host thousands of Christians in Israel and the CJCUC staff are invited to teach in churches worldwide. Our Bible studies serve as bridge-builder on how Jews and Christians have much in common with one another.

Blessing Bethlehem is an initiative designed to help the persecuted Christian community living in Bethlehem and the surrounding areas. Our mandate is based upon Isaiah 58:6, where God asks of us to "share your bread with the hungry." Assistance is provided in the form of weekly food deliveries.

Covenant Land comes with covenant responsibility. The cooperation between Jews and Christians in helping to put food on the table to Christian Arabs living in the birthplace of Christianity demonstrates to them that they are not alone. Each week, there is a reminder that people love and care for them.

The Book of Psalms has both served as the liturgies for both Jewish and Christian worship as well as expressing a wide range of personal and collective emotions, circumstances, and requests. Rarely has the Psalter been utilized as a way to bring both communities together in prayer.

In 2015, the Day to Praise was launched inviting Christians to join the Jewish people in reciting Psalms 113-118, known as the Hallel, on Israel's Independence Day. CJCUC conducts a local Hallel service in Israel, where hundreds gather to praise the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In addition, the Day to Praise produces Hallel worship songs to make Psalms 113-118 relevant in congregational prayer life.

Our Story

In January of 2008, a historical moment took place between the Synagogue and Church, when Rabbi Shlomo Riskin and David Nekrutman established the first Orthodox Jewish institution, the Hertog Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding & Cooperation (CJCUC), to religiously dialogue and actively cooperate with Christians. In less than a decade, CJCUC has moved to the forefront of theological advancements in Jewish-Christian relations. CJCUC has changed the
paradigm by interfacing with tens of thousands of Christians through bible studies, faith based events that bring Jews and Christians together, and providing humanitarian aid.

Over the years, the CJCUC staff has educated many within the Orthodox Jewish movement regarding the importance of a Jewish-Christian alliance that is rooted in our common Judeo-Christian ethics. In 2015, CJCUC facilitated the first positive Orthodox Rabbinical Statement on Christianity, which included over 60 rabbinical signatories. Members of CJCUC’s staff officially "Members of CJCUC's staff officially represent the State of Israel on the International Jewish Coalition on Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) which is the official Jewish partner for interfaith dialogue with the Vatican, Orthodox Churches and European Protestant Churches. CJCUC is also the leader of the Israel Jewish Council on Interfaith Relations (IJCIR).

With the publications of Covenant & Hope, Plowshares into Swords?, and Returning to Zion, CJCUC broke new ground in Jewish theology. These academic works explored how traditional Jews can understand Christians in religious and covenantal terms as well as how Jews and Christians can be partners to spread the knowledge of the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the covenant of Abraham, and the biblical values of righteousness and justice for all human beings who are created in the Image of God, to humanity.

Executive Staff

Members of CJCUC's Executive Staff

Rabbi Dr. Shlomo Riskin

Founder & Chancellor

David Nekrutman

Executive Director

Rabbi Pesach Wolicki

Associate Director

Rabbi Eugene Korn, PhD.

Academic Director

Please donate to the Christian Victims of Persecution Fund

Latest news

April 10, 2017 – In response to ISIS terror attacks on three separate churches in Egypt during Palm Sunday yesterday services, David Nekrutman, the Executive Director for the Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation in Jerusalem and Pastor Steven Khoury, President of Holy Land Missions, are partnering together to help the Christians who have been […]

by Eugene Korn “Why was Adam created alone? [I.e. Why did all humanity emerge from one person?]… To tell of the glory of The Holy One, for when a person mints many coins from the same die, all the coins are identical. But while the King of Kings, The Holy One, mints all persons from […]

The Center for Jewish- Christian Understanding and Cooperation In partnership with The Wasserman Jewish Studies Center & The Baruch College Department of Philosophy Celebrated the Jewish-Christian Relational legacy of The late Dr. Michael Wyschogrod On October 31st in New York City. Dr. Michael Wyschogrod Bio Born in Berlin in 1928, Dr. Michael Wyschogrod became a […]